The Caw: Mood At The Castle On Eve Of Free Agency

There is a quiet calm before the storm at the Under Armour Performance Center as the clock ticks down.

I was walking down to play some basketball the other day and I saw Ravens Senior Vice President of Football Administration Pat Moriarty talking on his cell phone while on the elliptical machine.

Considering the Ravens are in the middle of negotiations with their own free agents and can now contact others, I pretended Moriarty was talking to some player’s agent, trying to hammer out a deal or convincing him that the Ravens’ offer was fair.

It was kind of cool, the image of Moriarty hard at work even when he’s exercising. I bet General Manager Ozzie Newsome has definitely done some business while on the treadmill.

But that probably wasn’t what Moriarty was on the phone talking about. He was more likely checking in to see whether he had to stop at the grocery store on the way home or something.

The funny thing is, I always get asked this time of the year about what’s going to happen in free agency. What am I hearing, since I’m an employee of the Baltimore Ravens?

The answer is I know nothing. That doesn’t sound good, but it’s true.

Now, I can probably make some educated guesses mainly because I know the tendencies of this franchise, I know what their needs are and it’s my job (like other reporters) to be plugged into news around the league. I have come to understand the kind of players the Ravens like and what makes sense.

But I’m not talking to agents. I leave that to Newsome and Moriarty (and The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson). And Newsome, Moriarty and the rest of the front office definitely aren’t telling me anything before it happens.

Inside information of signings and who we’re pursuing is limited and protected by a few atop the front office and Head Coach John Harbaugh of course. Not even everybody in the scouting department knows what they’re bosses are going to do.

So what’s it like around here? It’s like it always is.

It’s like most of us are at the eye of the hurricane, total peace with swirling winds around us. This is the calm before the storm. I’ll be tuned in just like the rest of you, then working furiously when signings happen. Enjoy it, because it’s one of the most fun times of the year.

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